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MONK BAR

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Four storeyed town gate with circular bartizans at the north and east angles, and dates from the early 14th century, the uppermost storey being added in the late 15th century. It was built to a sophisticated design with each floor defensible. From 1577 it was used as a prison. The barbican was removed in 1815-25. It retains a portcullis which is in working order..

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Monk Bar: 4 storeys. Round carriage arch 2 plain orders recessed beneath giant 2-centred arch of 2 chamfered orders springing from 2-storey projecting pilaster buttresses with moulded and weathered bases. First floor of buttresses pierced by shouldered doorways to original barbican: above carriage arch, 2 tiers of cruciform arrow slits. Buttresses rise into corbelled-out 3-stage embattled bartizans joined at second stage by gallery with embattled parapet, at third stage by plain parapet. Bartizans have cruciform arrow slits to each stage, also to second stage, behind gallery, over square gunports. Heraldry includes 2 painted and carved shields of the Arms of City of York and shield of the Royal Arms of England beneath crowned helm with crest, all beneath canopies. Both bartizans topped by 3 carved figures of wildmen holding boulders. Inner side has giant segmental chamfered arch over recessed carriageway arch with pointed arched staircase door at left. Above carriage arch is corbelled gallery beneath low round-headed doorway, central window of 2 tiers of 3 round-headed lights and 1-light window to left, in chamfered surrounds. Second floor has square-headed window of 3 trefoiled lights in centre, niches with cinquefoiled heads at each end. Third floor has square-headed window of paired shouldered lights at each side of shallow trefoil-headed niche in round-headed moulded surround.

INTERIOR: staircases to all floors contained in wall thickness. All upper floors are stone-flagged and roofs to ground, first and second floors are vaulted with chamfered stone ribs. Garderobes and fireplaces survive on first and second floors. On first floor, raised portcullis is visible: on second floor, wooden windlass for portcullis survives. (1)

History and full architectural description, elevations and plans. The barbican projected 44 fet i front of the gatehouse, wa 27 feet wide and 17 feet high, the walls being 5-6 feet thick. It was entered through a round-headed archway. (2)

SOURCE TEXT

(1) List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest

City of York, 14-Mar-1997

(2) Royal Commission on Historical Monuments, England 1972 An inventory of the historical monuments in the City of York. Volume II: the defences

Page(s)125-32

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